Consumerist
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distracted driving
Federal Employees Banned From Texting While Driving
An executive order issued this week bans federal employees from texting while driving when using government vehicles or phones, or while on government business. Given the safety risks of texting while driving, we think this was a good move, and hope that it extends to the general population. Take our poll and tell us what you think, inside. More » -
airlines
Breaking Down Airline Safety Records
The Daily Beast says it has determined which airlines in the U.S. are the safest by comparing the global statistics for the 25 airlines with the best safety records and those with the worst. Which is the safest? The answer may come as a surprise, since this methodology showed that AirTran is the safest national carrier. More » -
surprise!
Despite Refinance, Homeowner Evicted And House Sold [Updated]
Imagine coming home to find the sheriff on your doorstep with an eviction notice, and then being given 3 hours to get the hell off your property, which is no longer yours because your bank mistakenly sold it out from under you for about a third of its value. Oops! Although we initially assumed WaMu/Chase was behind all of it, NCB Miami reports that actually "a mistake in the Miami-Dade Clerk's Office appears to be behind the mishap, which landed Ramirez homeless for more than 24 hours."
Thanks to reader fantomesq, we now know more of what happened. More »
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cell phones
Reminder: Distracted Driving Is Bad And Dangerous
We had a robust debate on Monday on the use of cell phones and wireless devices while driving. Since then, Consumer Reports Cars has taken a look at the actual statistics for accidents caused by driver distraction, and also the cell-while-driving laws actually on the books in the United States in different localities. Spoiler alert: Texting while driving isn't a good idea. More » -
snacks
Slim Jim Shortages Cause Widespread Turmoil, Healthy Sodium And Cholesterol Levels
If you're noticing a lack of mechanically separated chicken and hydrolyzed corn gluten in your diet, you're not alone. The tragic ConAgra factory explosion that killed three people near Raleigh, N.C. ended Slim Jim production until this fall. [Update: The factory is reopening on July 27.] It was the only place where the snack sticks are manufactured. More » -
That end-of-the-school-year DVD may have been homemade by the teacher, but that doesn't mean it can't pack an accidental porno cherrybomb. An elementary school teacher in Sacramento mistakenly included 6 seconds of a "home movie" in a compilation she sent home to students. Click through to the article for an awesome photo illustration of how adults think kids react to gross-out grownup stuff. [SFGate] (Thanks to Paul!) (Photo: Adactio)
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tragic
Man Dies Trying To Stop Verizon Van
The Washington Post says that a 79-year-old widower died after trying to stop a Verizon technician from pulling out of his drive way. The man was apparently extremely frustrated with his service, in addition to being quite lonely since his wife passed away from a stroke. More » -
taking it seriously
Comcast Takes Setting Your House On Fire "Very Seriously"
If a Comcast subcontractor accidentally drills into your electrical box and sets fire to your home — rest assured that the company will take it seriously. One Pennsylvania homeowner is feeling the seriousness right now. It all started when she asked Comcast to install a cable outlet in her kitchen, and it ended with smoke and flames and $20,000 in damage. More » -
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limousines
Blessed Limo Provides Hellish Prom Service
Who wouldn't want to start their prom by watching a stretch limo cruise down their street an hour and a half late before crashing into their parent's car? Apparently a bunch of high school students in Washington state, that's who. And they're not the only ones angry that they booked with Blessed Limo. The notorious local operator apparently has a knack for showing up late and then stranding kids at prom. Complaining to state authorities only goes so far because these guys don't even bother with bureaucratic backaches like "operating licenses." More » -
Please Stop Texting While Driving Two recent incidents with conductors of public transit vehicles getting into accidents while texting have magnified the consequences of using cell phones while operating a vehicle. Surprisingly, there are few complaints about other drivers sexting while driving. [Consumer Reports Cars]
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freebies
Ride For Free On Jet Blue (If You Can Get Yourself "Trapped" In The Cargo Hold)
A Jet Blue employee hitched a free flight from JFK Airport in NYC to Logan Airport in Boston this past weekend, after getting trapped in the cargo hold before takeoff. Police aren't charging him with a crime, but they told the Boston Globe that, "Even after talking to him, we were a little uncertain as to how it happened." He apparently called the company from the cargo hold once the plane was in the air—which is exactly what we would do to deflect suspicion in a scheme like this. Tokyo, here we come via new part-time job as a baggage handler! More » -
toys r us
Toys R Us Bathroom Stall Falls On Child Safety Advocate
In 2006, Jennifer—the co-founder of popular parenting/consumer advocacy site Z Recommends—took her two-and-a-half-year-old to the bathroom at the local Toys R Us store. What she didn't know was that this particular store featured the awesome striking power of the Action Toilet Stall with Collapsible Mom Trap! As she closed the door, the entire partition fell over on top of her and her daughter. Jennifer managed to protect her daughter from harm, but in the two years since the event, she's developed chronic pain from the accident—and the response from Toys R Us has been "don't call us, we'll call you." More » -
overenthusiasm
This Walmart Guard's Loss Prevention Strategy Includes Tackling
Joseph Gregorie, a (former?) Walmart loss prevention officer, is going to make sure nobody steals on his watch, especially not in this economic climate. After seeing a 58-year-old woman stuff several items in her tote bag and head for the exit, he introduced himself. She dropped the bag but continued to leave the store, so he "grabbed [her] in a bear-hug and threw her to the ground," giving the woman a pretty impressive looking black eye in the process. They've both been arrested. More » -
California Tortilla
California Tortilla Cashier Screams At Disabled Customer Who Accidentally Spilled Tray
Update: The owner of the California Tortilla left an excellent response, republished inside in full.
Reader Mark is a California Tortilla fanatic. He slept outside the Ranson store so he could be their first customer, earning a year of free burritos. Mark kept patronizing California Tortilla even after he fractured his back in a car accident and started wearing a bulky back brace that limited his ability to move or bend. On one visit, Mark accidentally knocked over his tray. When nobody came to help, Mark asked the cashier for assistance and was startled when she replied, "So I guess you want me to clean it up?" She then managed to further embarrass Mark by loudly explaining to other customers, "Sorry I kinda have to clean up when someone makes a mess." More »
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accidents
Always Test The Merchandise Before Demonstrating It
Where is the salesman in this screencap? He's behind the table, holding his ribcage and crying out in pain. Don't keep striking your $45 samurai blade against the table, kids—otherwise you might find yourself saying things like, "Ohhh, that got me good," instead of talking about the awesome swordlike qualities of your sword. More » -
comcast
Comcast Crashed A Truck Into My House And I Don't Even Get Free Cable
Reader Ryan sends us a gallery of photos depicting the aftermath of an unfortunate meeting between a moving Comcast van and his house. More » -
scary
Warning: There Are Scorpions In The Walmart Produce Department
12-year-old Megan Templeton was shopping with her father for some watermelons and hamburgers for their Memorial Day cook-out when she was stung by a stowaway scorpion that had made a home in the produce section of her local Walmart. More »
accidents
New York, 9:21 PM
Thu Nov 12
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